Ballarat man wanted by police five times

A BALLARAT man was wanted by police on five outstanding warrants for arrest when he was allegedly caught driving without a licence last week, a court has heard.

Last Friday police intercepted Andrew Gist, 41, in Wattle Avenue, Wendouree, with checks showing he was unlicensed and had five arrest warrants to his name.

Gist appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday where he was eventually granted bail.

He is charged with three counts of unlicensed driving, burglary, obtaining property by deception, shop-theft and failing to appear.

Detailing the offending to the court, police prosecutor Sergeant Adam McCormack said Gist had failed to appear, in accordance with his bail, in Ballarat Magistrates Court on several occasions last year.

The court heard that two of his failures to appear related to shop thefts in which Gist allegedly stole prescription medication from local pharmacies.

On each occasion Gist allegedly produced a script to the pharmacist. The script would get made but Gist would leave without paying, the court heard.